Vero Beach - Olathe

On June 10, 2019 at 10:30 AM, Vero Beach - Olathe experienced a crash involving Cessna 425 Conquest, operated by Santa Fe Investments, with the event recorded near Butler Missouri.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. On June 10, 2019, about 1030 central daylight time, a Cessna 425 multi-engine airplane, N622MM, registered to Santa Fe Investments Inc., of Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by the pilot, was destroyed during a forced landing after experiencing engine problems, near Butler, Missouri. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The cross country flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The flight originated at 0554 from the Vero Beach Municipal Airport (VRB), Vero Beach, Florida, and its planned destination was the New Century Air Center Airport (IXD), Olathe, Kansas. According to preliminary information provided by Air Traffic Control (ATC), the pilot was beginning to descend to set up his approach to IXD. Passing through about 17,000 feet msl, the pilot told the ATC controller that he was having problems retarding the power on the right engine. Passing through about 13,200 feet msl, the pilot told the controller that he was going to lower the landing gear and continue to proceed direct to IXD, and stated that he would have to shut down the right engine when he was in range of the airport. Passing through about 12,900 feet msl, The pilot told the controller that the right engine was still stuck at full power, and that he was going to have to shut the right engine down. Passing through about 7,800 feet msl, the pilot requested to change his destination to the nearest airport. The controller advised the pilot that the nearest airport was Butler Memorial Airport (BUM), about 8 miles away, and gave the pilot a vector to BUM. Passing through about 6,200 feet msl, the controller asked the pilot to change frequencies and the pilot acknowledged but did not have the airport in sight. The controller issued another vector toward BUM. Passing through about 5,400 feet msl, the pilot told the controller that he still did not have the airport in sight, and a few seconds later told the controller that he had the airport in sight. Passing through about 4,000 feet msl, the controller advised the pilot of a possible tailwind if landing on runway 18 at BUM, and the pilot responded that he would go-around and set up for runway 36. Passing through about 2,900 feet msl, the controller asked the pilot if he had the airport in sight, and the pilot responded to standby and said, "I am trying to get this thing under control." Passing through about 1,800 feet msl, the pilot told the controller that, "she's going down," and stated that he was going to try to land on highway 69. The last radar information showed the airplane about 1,700 feet msl. This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. A witness near the accident site saw the airplane at low altitude, nosing down toward a field. Evidence at the accident site showed that the airplane impacted a 75-foot tall grain silo and fell to the ground. The grain silo was located about one mile from a highway, and about 4 miles from BUM. Local residents responded to the accident site and reported the accident. The wreckage was moved to a secure facility and detailed examinations of the airframe fuel system and engines were conducted. Examinations of the engine accessories are ongoing.

Aircraft reference details include registration N622MM, MSN 425-0187, year of manufacture 1983.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 36.7151°, -90.4146°.